Happy 24th!

Mayfield puts on a big shin-dig for the 24th every year. This year we made plans with Brian & Crystal to check it out. The parade started at 10, and the way we are, of course we were late. But only by a few minutes. We were able to pull off the side of the road and watch the parade. The poor folks behind us were waiting to go up the canyon and had to wait at the road block until the parade was over.

It was a cute small town parade: fire truck, ambulance, kids on 4-wheelers, guys in tractors were all dressed up and throwing candy and snacks to the kids lining the streets. Afterwards we headed to the park where they had food and games. The girls, of course, couldn't make up their minds about what to do or what to see. They settled for the train ride around the park - the train was actually pulled by an atv. They finally agreed on fishing, and each 'reeled' in a cute stuffed animal. And there was no hesitation on butterfly tattoos for each girl.

We decided we had enough fun, and heat; we loaded up and headed up the mountain. Brian & Crystal wanted to take us to their fishing spot at Emerald Lake. It was beautiful. Though the fishing sucked, it was a good time hanging out and the kids were able to play and get wet.

We then drove down to Deep Lake to 'catch some fish,' but Crystal realized what time it had gotten to be and had to be to work early in the morning. They all drove home and we went on over to Six Mile Ponds. We told ourselves we would only be an hour, but the fish turned on right about the time it was time to go. It was so good in fact, Jason made sure he had set the hook real good and handed the pole to Chey. She reeled and reeled:


Then she felt the fish fighting! With a look on her face too cute to put in words, she says, "I got fishy!"


Without much help she was able to reel her fish all the way to shore.


She was completely thrilled with her first fish! She even screamed, "My first fish ever!"


Another fishergirl is born!

Chicken Run XII

We've been calling our spread 'The Thomas Tiny Ranch' since we moved here because we finally got out of the Big Shitty and have our small piece of country. Well! We have now become official! With our garden growing pretty well, and now, our chickens running the yard! (well, in a couple weeks they will be)

We have an out-building in the back that someone previously used to house rabbits, and then we fenced it for a dog-run. A dog run that has now become over grown since the Hudini act that could've been fatal.

Some friends of ours have chickens, the neighbors all around us have chickens. Our friends hatched and were raising some chicks for us when their son forgot to shut the door properly and their dog had a hay-day! So, we got online for our own.

Some one in Centerfield listed some chickens on KSL. $5 a piece for 3 year old layers and if we bought 10 he would throw in a rooster. Sounded good to us. The chickens were in Box Elder County and so it would take a couple weeks for them to be delivered. But that gave us the time to prepare. Jason spent 2 whole days turning this rabbit-house/dog-run in to a suitable chicken run. I love my handy-man!


Here's the ramps Jason built so they can get from one side to the other


The left side has another ramp to get on top to the nests.


And more nests on the right side.


Then we waited. Patience does not reside in this house, so it was a long wait, especially when they didn't show up the night they were supposed to. But I got a call this morning saying they were in town, but...they weren't the chickens we thought we were getting and there were only 6. Instead of chickens that are good for eating and lay large eggs, they are Bantams. They are a quarter to half the size of standard chickens and lay little eggs. But $10 for 6 hens and a rooster, we thought it was a good start.

In a week we will let them out in the run, then after a week of that they will be free-ranging! Our backyard-chickens!

The Thomas Tiny Ranch Round Up!

We had high hopes for this year's family camping trip. Just about everyone invited was planning on it and we found a pretty good spot to fit all the rigs coming up (or down - whichever way you look at it). We took our motor-home up there Wednesday and eagerly anticipated every one's arrival.

It ended up being a pretty busy weekend; people and vehicles were everywhere. So we were grateful we planned ahead and had our spot marked out.

Bojangles and its occupants was the first to crest the hill into camp, followed by Mom & Dad, and Ian & Crystal. We started having a really good time right off the bat. I'm not sure camp was entirely set up for these folks in the caravan when the alcohol was already broken out.

Dad and Ian took the wheelers for a ride up the Pinchot trail and Crystal and my two older girls went with. Russ and Sue showed up and were getting their trailer positioned in the trees while, Mom and Linda started cooking burgers making a joke that the others could eat later. Just then Dad crested the hill and stomped on the brakes. I thought, that was strange, course it is hard to tell which hill is camp. But then he came around the motor-home and did it again. Abriana and Kayla went flying forward and Abriana jumps off screaming, "Ian wrecked and his head is bleeding!"

I looked at Dad and asked how bad, he said pretty bad. The tone in his voice and the look on his face sure sobered folks up. I ran to Jason and asked him if he could take the jeep up to Ian. Linda agreed to watch my girls while I jumped on the wheeler with Dad.

We got there, 6.6 miles from camp, and Ian and Crystal were sitting (well, Ian was laying) on the side of the road. They had climbed up the 30 foot slope hoping it would be warmer out of the trees. Some other vehicles had stopped when they saw people sitting on the side of the road and they helped load the wounded into the back of the jeep. Then Jason and Mom flew down the canyon to the hospital.

Dad took me back to camp since it was getting dark and there was no way of getting the other wheeler out until morning. My wonderful other mom (she's too awesome to be called mother-in-law) had fed the two little ones and layed them down to sleep (Abriana went with Mom and Jason to the hospital). Eric and Leslie had arrived in the meantime.

Not too long after, Jason came back with news. Crystal was bruised up, in fact her words were, "I'm just jello. Too much cushion for the pushin, I just bounced on my fat." It was good to hear her spirits were still high. Ian skinned the top of his head, bruised at least one kidney and broke his leg. What a fun way to start off the weekend!

What happened: They went up the trail and had a wonderful time; saw beautiful scenery and at least a dozen deer. When they hit the main road they knew they had been gone a while and were hurrying back to camp to tell us all about their experience, as well as get some food. They were riding tandem and came to a sharp corner. Going way too fast for the turn Ian wasn't able to slow down fast enough and turn hard enough; off the side of the road they went. Abriana heard Ian scream, "OH SHIT!" and turned to see them go off. She yelled, "IAN IAN! Grandpa they fell!" Dad didn't understand what she was trying to say, when he looked behind him all he saw was a dust trail following him and another one going off the side of the road.

Ian and Crystal saw they weren't making the turn and bailed off the wheeler. They tumbled down about 30-40 feet landing in trees and rock. Crystal said when she looked up after she stopped rolling, the bike was coming straight at her. She bit her lip and tried to scoot out of the way when a tree caught the bike and stopped it.

Stacey and Matt and the kids made it to camp shortly after Jason came back from the hospital. It was getting late and some folks were ready for bed, but not everyone was back yet. Finally about 1 in the morning, they arrived. The burgers had been put in the cooler for another night, and tuna sandwich's were made.

In the morning, we set off to recover the wheeler. Dad had a portable winch he hadn't used yet, now was the time to see what it could do. It was awesome, just what he needed! It pulled that wheeler up without a problem. Of course, the wheeler wouldn't start, but with a little TLC and some cleaning of filters, it later fired right up. All the damage was cosmetic and unimportant compared to the lives that were involved.

Most of the group went up to Deep Lake to try some fishing after the wheeler was back at camp. John and Shiree even came up for the day. It was a beautiful day to be up there. Then we went back to camp to sing Happy Birthday to Hailey and enjoy some poppy seed cake. It was a nice birthday party for her with all her family there.

Early the next morning, Jason, I, our kids, and Uncle Eric went up to Town Reservoir to do some more fishing. It was a beautiful morning and we did catch a few fish.

Other than the first night of chaos, it was a wonderful weekend and we can't wait for next year to do it again!

Finally!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Fish fish fish! We decided to try Town Reservoir when the snow drifts in the road were still too deep to get past to get to Deep Lake. We went up Tuesday afternoon and found that the fishing was ON! We caught a few and as night drew closer, we decided to go back in the morning.

We got there around 7 and the fish started biting just after 10. There was a point when Jason was unhooking a fish from his pole then Bri started reeling a fish on her pole. Then as he's helping her unhook, his pole had another bite. I was throwing lures and so I had walked down the shore (it's actually become a joke now; all I have to do is walk away and the fish start biting). I did catch a nice one and was on my way back to the family when Kayla had just reeled one in on Bri's pole. It was a great morning!

On our way back home, I suggested we go shooting. The squeakies were everywhere! So we unloaded fishing gear, loaded up shooting gear and had a redneck style surf and turf day! Fish in the morning, squeakies in the evening. Awesome!!

Memorial weekend: Rule #51

After many, many, changes in plans, we all finally made it to camp Friday evening. Mother Nature decided we needed some cold, wet weather just before the big weekend, so it took a few days to find a spot that wasn't so ooey-gooey.

We did our usual of wheeling and having fun. Saturday we went East and found some snow to play in, but then it started to snow and became a bit much for the little ones who were riding on the wheelers with the grandparents. Besides, John couldn't make very far in the snow, which meant no one else was getting any farther than they were.

We went back to camp and the fun began - fun may be the wrong word; I don't know, I was having fun, even with my ear bleeding like a stuck pig. The fire, of course, was humongous. There was a pallet on top of the already big fire, and Dad and I had finished the Bacardi bottle. So, he placed the bottle on top of the pallet (with the cap on). I got up to get a Coke and BAAM! Sound like a gunshot, glass in my hair and Bacardi all over me (so I thought).

I was laughing and wiping my ear, neck and hair with the sleeve of my sweatshirt when Mom says, "Manda you're bleeding!" with the look and sound of seriousness. I ran to Mandy's trailer (someone had left the light on in our motorhome for 3 weeks and we had a dead battery) and a nurse who was camping with us followed. My ear had been sliced about 1/4 inch by the glass. The nurse was all excited to do some on-the-spot, out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, stitches. No need though, just a lot of pressure, laughing and, what the hey, more to drink.

Right after the explosion, though, Brooke went into a panic attack and then a seizure. Our camp nurse had a busy night for being on vacation. But everyone was and is just fine.

This is where Rule #51 when camping was born: DON'T put a glass bottle in the fire with its cap on! And right before #51 (or maybe this one is #51): Make sure you brought the first-aid kit, and that it is stocked!

During all of this, Jason and some of the other guys were off getting firewood. They came back one truck short; our mud truck got a flat. So Sunday, we went to rescue our truck. While we were waiting for the tire plug to set, we hiked to the Center of Utah and had a look-see.

We stayed on the west side where it was drier and just explored for the most part. It sure is greening up and looking more like Spring, yippee!

Monday the storms rolled in again and brought hail this time. Mom and Dad decided to take off early to miss that kind of fun, besides get home at a decent time. Uncle Eric and John took off to get more firewood to dry camp out. John was on his motorcycle and ran over a sagebrush. Somehow he got all squirrelly in the air and came down hard on his side in the middle of the road. Diagnosis: possible broken ribs and a broken foot.

Of course the sun decided to shine bright and hot just as we all were driving out of camp. Oh, well. Overall, everyone did have a good time!

Manti & BBQ with friends

I'm a dork. I know this. No need in reminding me. When I did the last post I thought to myself, I already uploaded the pictures from the camera, I'm set. Well, I didn't remember I had taken a picture of fishing at Nine-Mile, so I am going to add it here. Abriana is getting more and more into fishing, she wanted to try to throw lures this time, as well as practice her casting. So I rigged her up and off she went. It is so neat to watch her grow.


So, some friends of ours invited us over for a BBQ Saturday afternoon. When I was talking to Napoleon on the phone, I mentioned we went fishing again...with no luck. He said, "Fishing?! Let's go fishing, bring your stuff! I know a place that I always catch fish." So we did.

We went to Manti Community. What a beautiful day for fishing, and, just being outdoors.


We had walked around to the other side of the lake so the kids would have more room to play. They played in the water, snow and mud. Abriana had walked out into the lake along the waterfall but forgot to put the straps of her water shoes around her ankles and stepped into a sinkhole. She pulled her foot up without her shoe. I don't even know how the kids could play in the water it was so freaking cold. She dug and dug but couldn't find it. And again, no fish...well, for us; Elena caught 2.

We went back to Elena and Napoleon's house. They had ribs marinating while we fished and it was time to grill them. While I was helping flip the ribs, the neighbors came by with their horses and let the kids go for a ride. They thought it was ever so cool!


Chey's fascination with horses was overcome by fear when she got that close. I managed to take a picture of her petting one while Dad held her, but of course, "the image cannot be displayed" was the end result on the camera. I have, however, figured out my problem and hopefully there won't be any more of those messages in the future.

May Day

The elementary had their May Day program yesterday. The girls have been practicing their songs and dances for weeks and getting more and more excited with each day drawing nearer to the big event. The program was scheduled for 9:30 in the morning and you wouldn't believe the sight of the gym, totally packed as if it were the Christmas program.

Cheyenne and I found a corner to sit in facing where Kayla should be performing, according to the chart her teacher sent home. Grant, the principal, opened the program telling everyone about a plaque and flag the school received. A soldier from our town sent them both from Iraq, the flag was even flown over there. All the kids who have a parent serving in Iraq right now, 7 total, held this flag while the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance. It was an awesome moment.


Then the program began with 4th graders playing recorders, followed by more 4th graders dancing around the May poles.


The preschoolers came out next in their jammies and danced to a cute song. Then the kindergartners lined up in cowboy hats and vests for their dance to 'You've got a friend in me' from Toy Story. I looked and looked but couldn't find Kayla, so I just took a picture of the whole group.


The third graders ran onto the floor with parachutes and performed to 'The Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride' from Lilo and Stitch. Of course, Abriana was on the complete opposite side of the gym from us. I tried to get a zoomed in shot once I spotted her, but Cheyenne thought I was a jungle gym and wouldn't sit still for more than 5 seconds, and then it was over.


The second graders then did square dancing, and since there weren't an even number of students, Abriana was asked to help out (she knew the steps from last year). Just as I was ready to take a picture of her, the principal says on the microphone, "Kayla D****...Kayla D****'s Mom...will you...she's not feeling well, will you please meet Mrs. Henrie in the northeast corner of the gym."

Poor girl was holding her teacher's hand, paler than pale, shaking and crying. She threw up just as her class went to perform and once more before they called me over. She didn't get to do her dance, but she did make it outside when she got sick. And gave me the excuse to duck out early!

Jason got home early and was really in the mood to do something: wheeling, fishing, visiting John & Shiree. We opted for fishing. That way Kayla could lay in the jeep if she wanted, not be bounced around, and not spread her germs (if she had any. I think it was heat and nerves that made her stomach upset).

We went to Nine-Mile, but it skunked us again. I think we lost our fishing touch or something; too many times we have been fishing without a bite this year. But we'll keep trying!

Happy Mother's Day

The plan was to leave the house at 5:30 in the a.m. and hit the road to Otter Creek. We did get to Otter Creek, we just didn't get up that early. Jason and I occasionally spend time together playing the PlayStation and Saturday night we just couldn't turn it off; we were having too much fun.

We got there around 8:30 and set up. It was a cold morning, but the sun was making its way out of the clouds. The minnows and crawdads were all along the shoreline, so the girls were trying to catch them. They did catch a few crawdads but would only hold them on a stick or in the net. We were able to net what looked like a chub, it had been swimming around the rocks below Cheyenne's feet as she splashed in the water.

The fish weren't biting and the wind came up, so we found a different spot to try with the wind at our backs. Still no bites. Jason and I went for a walk around the point we were sitting near, and when we came back, this is what we saw:


Abriana set, reeled in, netted and unhooked her very own fish! What a big girl she can be when she tries! We were both so very proud of her!

The wind calmed down and no one had another bite, so again we set off to a new spot; just past our first one. Shells of crawdads were all over in the rocks and the girls had us laughing playing with them. Chey would pick one up and start dancing and singing, "Mistew Cwab, Mistew Cwab."

Everyone had their fun quota filled that day, even Ruger.


When we got home the girls gave me gifts they made at school. Abriana's flower was a little wilted from being in a paper bag for two and a half days, but still so beautiful.


Kayla's big card sure made me smile. She missed the 'i' in her middle name, but she hasn't had much practice spelling it. The petals on the flowers were made with her fingertip dipped in paint. She said she had a lot of fun making it and couldn't wait to give it to me.

There's nothing more enjoyable than spending the day with my family, especially on Mother's Day.

My first garden...

Jason and I have discussed having a garden since we moved here. Neither one of us knows much about gardening, nor is there a green thumb in the relationship, but we decided it can't hurt to try.

The soil down here is not soil, it is San Pete clay, and in the summer - dust. Our neighbors told us anything we want to plant will grow, but just to make sure, Jason went to the dairy and got a truck load of compost.


It was a bit much for the truck; notice how low the back end sits. You should've seen the springs!

We shoveled it all out and borrowed the neighbors tiller.


Then I put the kids to work helping hoe rows (without a hoe). They did a great job and had fun playing in the dirt.


Chey helped play in the dirt and knock soil back down.


But we got it done and made a little irrigation system so the water will just flow. Jason bought the seeds and helped me plant: corn, tomato, dill, cilantro, jalapeno & anaheim peppers, peas, carrots, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and 5 different kinds of squash. When the plants arrive at the Ace, we will get strawberries and raspberries planted. We'd like to plant some fruit trees, but that may have to wait until next year.

Wish us luck! My mom text me last night and said the plant I planted for her is doing awesome. Jason said, "Our garden is going to suck!" When I told Mom that she asked why. I said, "Because I can't even grow a house plant!" The one I planted for myself, with the same seeds, is not doing as well as hers is and I've recently lost the luscious plant my sister-in-law gave me. I did not inherit my grandma's green thumb, that's for sure.

Topaz Mountain

I think my parents might stop accepting our invitations. They have had the worst of luck the last two trips - the only two trips with us.

At Sinkhole flat, not only did they run out of gas, they hadn't brought any extra. When they go up to the property they don't wheel as much as we did and they have spare gas up there. But luckily there was enough spare gas around camp to get them running again and then Sunday morning they took a trip to Green River to refill.

So, Jason got off work early Friday and we were on the road about 1:30. Mom and Dad weren't getting off for a few more hours and Uncle Eric thought they could meet up along the way and caravan together, however, Aunt Leslie got off work early too. But Mom and Dad wouldn't be very far behind and they had the map and directions.

Well, with all the construction going on in the Big Shitty, I-80 was a parking lot and it was a few more miles of sit-&-go traffic to even get near the on-ramps. Getting directly on I-15 would be better, or so they thought. I think it took them half an hour to get to an on-ramp that wasn't closed. By then it was rush hour, on a Friday.

We were sitting at camp, not the one my parents had the map and directions to because it was already taken, and Abriana asked, "When are Grandma and Grandpa going to be here?! I want to see them!" Aunt Leslie made a stab-in-the-dark, "Maybe they stopped for dinner, so I'd say they'll be here in...oh...about 35 minutes." 10 minutes later the van pulled up. Mom was driving, there was no trailer and no Dad either. They blew a tire on the trailer about half an hour from camp, didn't have a spare and Dad was sitting with the wheelers.

Uncle Eric had a spare and Jason went to rescue Dad. Mom started getting a little nervous when they weren't back yet and I told her I'd drive her down the road if she wanted. Just then we saw headlights. It was Dad and Jason but still no trailer; the spare went flat 4 miles from camp! Dad had hammered the fender back in place after the blow out and he even spun the tire around to make sure it wasn't touching. But, in the dark and cold, he didn't think to make sure the tire wasn't touching when he took the trailer off the jack. Oops! But again, Uncle Eric came to the rescue and pulled a tire off his trailer so my parents could get everything to camp.

With everyone finally at camp, the party began, and Eric and Cameron tended the fire. Those two love a huge fire; if it's not 6 feet high and blazing hot 10 feet away then it's not a fire.


Sophie thinks she is a parrot and could not be comfortable unless she was perched.


Mom and Dad took off early Saturday morning to make the hour or so drive to Delta to get some new tires. They were able to replace the blown ones, but the tire place didn't have rims for them to get a spare. At least it was better than nothing and they would be able to get home.

When Mom and Dad got back it was off to explore. We went up to one mine where there were the prettiest purple rocks.


You can't really see the color, but those holes are entrances that go down. I walked over there with Chey and she got a little nervous, "Mommy, careful, fall." (which means: be careful, don't fall). There's also a large hole on the left that goes down about 50 feet and is about 25 feet across. Everyone else had been down in that when they went in the lower mine, I was in the jeep with a sleeping little one.

After we explored that mine, we went looking for another, but couldn't get the jeeps through the gate so we went wheeling. It was a nice sunny day and we ended up childless; Abriana was riding with Grandma, Kayla with Uncle Eric and Grandpa had Chey. It was so relaxing to spend some time with just my hubby.

When we got back to camp, the kids still hadn't had enough of the wheelers, and Cheyenne and Ian had become quite the little buddies. They would go from wheeler to wheeler and "bive." They followed each other around and had a good ol' time playing.



The next day everyone was eager to look for rocks and stones. You just gotta when you go all the way to Topaz. Cameron knew a guy that gave him permission to rock hound on his claim, but first we checked out an area we thought might be good. I got a pretty good sized one with the help of...everyone. Jason first started hammering but, earlier he had saved a huge stake from crashing into his knee as it was rolling down the rock, and in the process smashed and peeled his finger. Every time he swung the hammer blood literally squirted, it was kinda gross.

On the way back to camp we ran into a lonely antelope that posed for pictures.


It was another great weekend, and I really enjoy the fact that my parents love to do what we do and join us on our adventures. And you know, they weren't the only ones with problems that trip; Uncle Eric's motorcycle quit running, Cameron seized the engine on his motorcycle and his scrambler and Eric's motorcycle was giving him fits.

Until next time...no plans yet until Memorial.